ACBL: Generals' season ends with pair of defeats in playoffs

RIDGEFIELD PARK — The Trenton Generals’ season came to an end after they dropped a pair of games in the ACBL playoffs Saturday at Overpeck Park.

Despite coming in as the top seed, the Generals could only muster a first-round win over the North Jersey Eagles before falling to the Allentown Railers and then to the Eagles in an elimination game.

“We had a good year,” said manager Jim Maher. “We’ve won back-to-back regular season titles and have been the best regular-season team in the league in our first two years in the league. We just haven’t been able to get it done in the playoffs.”

Trenton dropped its first contest, 8-2 to Allentown. The Generals left 15 runners on base, forcing them into an elimination game against the Eagles, who they had defeated 8-7 the previous night.

North Jersey was able to jump out the lead with three runs in the third inning and then hold off Trenton despite a two hits and a home run from Jim Ravert.

“We’re in it for the long haul,” Maher said when asked if the team would return next season. “It’s a good league and we’ve had a lot of really good players. We’re going to comeback and hopefully finish it one of these years.”